CHESHIRE West and Chester Council is holding a public engagement session about the Whitby Hydrogen Village proposal later today (Tuesday, February 28) at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall.

Whitby in Ellesmere Port is being considered as the UK's first hydrogen village, in response to a programme led by Government and Ofgem, under proposals put forward by gas distribution network Cadent and British Gas. The area was confirmed in May 2022 in a shortlist of two locations across the country hoping to be the first to use low carbon hydrogen on this scale.

The proposal has been divisive with several residents and residents groups concerned about issues from safety to the future cost of hydrogen.

The Council say that the engagement event is an opportunity for residents in the Whitby area to have their say about the proposals and hear from various experts with a range of viewpoints.

The event is being chaired by Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Cllr Gittins said: "The engagement event this evening is being held to help us, the Council, fully understand the views of Whitby residents. At the session, I will also set out clearly the five tests that I will be asking Cadent and the Government to meet, to ensure our continued support for this programme.

"These tests are about public support, price guarantee, safety, a green hydrogen commitment, and local jobs for local people.

"Climate change presents a threat to our way of life, a fact that this council committed to take action against in 2019. If we are to make an impact on mitigating the impact of climate change for our residents, then we must be ambitious to achieve our target of being a carbon neutral borough by 2045, or earlier.

"Whilst we continue to explore and support opportunities that would see the borough at the forefront of taking action against climate change, we must ensure that these are right for our communities."

At the engagement session, Andrew Lewis, Chief Executive of Cheshire West and Chester Council, will be joined on a speakers’ panel. The panel includes:

• Gordon E Andrews, Professor of Combustion Engineering, University of Leeds

• Tom Baxter, a Chemical Engineering Consultant providing heat, power and greenhouse gas reduction expertise.

• Dr Angie Needle, Director of Strategy at Cadent

• David Cebon, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cambridge

• Mark Neller, Director at Arup

• Tom Collins, Product Owner Hydrogen UK

• Michael Liebreich, Chairman and CEO of Liebreich Associates.

As the venue is at full capacity, residents that haven’t registered and other interested parties can watch the proceedings live online at: https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/whitby.